You're Learning Computer Science the Wrong Way – Here's What College Isn't Telling You
If you're pursuing your Bachelor's degree in Computer Science Engineering (CSE),
“Why are we even learning all this?”
It’s a fair question. And it’s one your college likely isn’t answering properly. Today, I’m going to explain what computer science really is and what your curriculum is actually trying to teach you — from a real-world perspective.
What Is Programming Really About?
Programming isn’t just about writing code — it’s about communicating with your computer’s hardware using a specific language to build solutions.
In the earliest days, we used binary: 0s and 1s. Then came low-level languages like Assembly. Eventually, we developed more human-friendly languages like C, C++, Python, and Rust. But at the end of the day, it all serves one purpose:
To tell the machine what to do in the most efficient way possible.
Why Mathematics Is Your Brain’s Gym
Mathematics isn’t just a subject — it’s a workout for your brain.
Every time you solve a math problem, your brain becomes sharper and more adaptable. Yet many students try to memorize formulas instead of understanding them. That’s the real tragedy.
Is math even necessary in CSE?
Absolutely. Take cryptography, for example. The reason you’re able to securely read this blog online is thanks to mathematical encryption algorithms. RSA, SHA, AES — they’re all rooted in complex math.
So no, math isn’t useless. It’s the invisible force behind cybersecurity, data compression, machine learning, and more.
Why DSA Still Matters in the AI Era
Even in 2025, where AI is automating half of our tasks, Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) are still crucial.
Why?
Because AI is just a smarter calculator. If you don’t understand how to solve a problem, AI won’t magically do it for you.
DSA teaches you how to:
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Design efficient algorithms
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Store and retrieve data quickly
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Minimize time and space complexity
Think of DSA as the foundation of every app, system, or platform you’ll ever build.
Let’s Talk About Databases
Once your application starts collecting user data, you need a place to store and retrieve it efficiently. That’s where DBMS (Database Management Systems) come into play.
Learning SQL and NoSQL systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, etc., gives you the ability to:
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Query data quickly
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Manage user sessions
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Handle large-scale traffic
And guess what? If you master this field, you can branch into cloud engineering, database administration, backend development, and more.
Real-World Example: Building an App
Let’s say you're building a mobile app. What’s your goal?
Maximum downloads and an addictive user experience.
Now ask yourself:
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When will users download your app?
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When it’s smooth, lightweight, and fast, right?
Here’s how CSE subjects directly help:
| Feature | CSE Subject |
|---|---|
| Fast loading speed | Data Structures & Algorithms |
| Optimized memory usage | malloc, calloc, realloc in C |
| Minimal app crashes | Strong logic & error handling |
| Lightweight UI | Efficient frontend frameworks |
| User data management | DBMS & query optimization |
| Secure login system | Cryptography & Cybersecurity |
Everything ties back to what you learn in college — if you understand the real “why” behind each subject.
Cybersecurity: The Ultimate Test of Understanding
Want to be a good hacker or defender?
You must understand how things work under the hood:
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How operating systems allocate memory
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How applications talk to hardware
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How to reverse-engineer code or identify vulnerabilities
Cybersecurity isn’t magic — it’s deep technical mastery built on top of math, logic, and programming.
What Colleges Get Wrong
Your college curriculum isn’t useless — it’s just taught in a way that lacks real-world context.
You’re not just learning C — you’re learning how to build bridges between human needs and machine logic.
You’re not just studying DSA — you’re learning how to make your code scalable, optimized, and future-proof.
The tragedy is that no one tells you why these subjects matter. So students lose interest, and India continues producing engineers with degrees but no direction.
If India wants to become a tech superpower, students must start thinking like creators, not followers.
Don’t just chase marks. Chase mastery.
Understand the why behind everything. Practice. Build. Break. Repeat.
Because if you truly understand how computers work — from logic gates to algorithms to databases — you hold the power to create anything.
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